What Are Some Treatments for Osteophytes?

Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Celestone or Kenalog, are common treatments for painful osteophytes, also known as bone spurs, MedicineNet states. Treatment depends on the bone spurﾒs location and severity, so doctors consider options such as shoe inserts, orthotics, bone spur pads, cold therapy and surgery.

Bone spurs are usually left untreated when they donﾒt cause symptoms, according to WebMD. Doctors initially recommend conservative treatments for patients coping with mild pain, ranging from ice packs to stretching exercises. Bone spurs in the foot may require changes in footwear if they cause frequent corns and calluses. More intensive treatment is necessary when bone spurs trigger severe or persistent pain or put pressure on surrounding structures. For example, doctors may advise patients with osteoarthritis or plantar fasciitis to lose weight to relieve pressure on the affected joints. Deep tissue massage may reduce pain symptoms in patients with shoulder bone spurs.

Osteophytes are pointy growths that form on bones near inflammation or injury sites, especially on the feet, shoulders, joints, knees and spine, MedicineNet explains. These tiny projections develop when inflammatory pressure on surrounding ligaments, cartilage or tendons causes cells to product irregular deposits of bone. Bone spurs are only of serious concern when they threaten nearby nerves, but doctors can easily detect these growths using common imaging techniques, such as ultrasounds, CT scans and X-rays.